Head games
Frankie Pucci is a thinking man’s hockey player.
The 23-year-old winger isn’t the biggest — he is listed at 5-foot-9, 166 pounds — or the fastest skater, but has managed to be an offensive threat at every level.
Pucci joined the Brock Badgers men’s team two years ago and quickly displayed the same offensive instincts that made him a star with the Niagara Falls Canucks before he went on to the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he helped the Dukes to a birth in the RBC Cup.
Pucci collected six goals and 13 points in 16 games in his first season and Brock and this season is having another solid campaign with 15 points in 27 games.
“When I went up to the OJHL with Wellington, I was playing better hockey there and jumping into the playoffs which was high intensity hockey and competitive and then going for the RBC Cup really prepared me for the jump,” he said. “I was pretty used to the calibre.”
Brock coach Marty Williamson loves Pucci’s feel for the game.
“He’s not the most dynamic skater in the world but he sure finds a way to be effective and help contribute,” Williamson said. “He’s a gifted offensive guy but because he’s so smart, his defence never hurts you. Most offensive guys you go they’re not the best in their own zone but Pucci does a good job playing defence.
“He’s been a real solid addition to our team for the two years we’ve had him.”
Having said that, Williamson wasn’t sure how much Pucci was going to be able contribute when he arrived on at Brock.
“I had a lot of question marks but he won me over in that first year,” Williamson said. “He’s not the biggest guy or the fastest guy and that’s not usually a good combo but we’ve had pretty good success with (Christian) Girhiny coming in and he’s the same type of player.
“These guys are our top offensive players because of their IQ. They get the game, they’re smart, they’re in the right areas of the ice and understand timing, but they also work hard on their game in practice.”
Pucci said his hockey smarts were drilled into him at a young age.
“I guess it was probably instilled from my dad,” said Pucci, who is majoring in business communications. “He was always hard on me to make the right plays and not make bad decisions with the puck or away from the puck. He’s a pretty good mentor.
“I just try and out-smart guys and be in the right position always to make a good play or be good defensively.”
Williamson put Pucci on a line with Jordan Maletta and Jared Marino recently and the trio clicked immediately.
“They’re really two good talented players,” Pucci said of his line mates. “They’re big and create a lot of space with their bodies. They’re smart and good wth the puck. I think we have a good combination of skills and smarts to make good plays.
“I’m excited to go into playoffs with them.”
The Badgers, 13-14, are at Western Saturday to conclude the regular season.
“We’re going in that it’s an important game for us,” Williamson said. “We don’t want to lose two in a row going into the playoffs. We want to win the game and go into the playoffs on a proper note.”
The Badgers will likely take on Windsor, Ryerson or Guelph in a best-of-three first round playoff series beginning next week.
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